Here is the first case for 2017. It is an 8-year-old male neutered Border Collie with azotemia identified on bloodwork. More lameness on left pelvic limb in the last 3 weeks, stiff and rigid on physical exam. What are your findings?
Findings
On lateral images of the spine, there are multiple areas of lysis of vertebral endplates centered on intervertebral disc spaces (C3-4, T4-11, L3-4, L6-S1). The vertebral endplates have varying degrees of sclerosis surrounding the lysis, and many have extensive spondylosis deformans. Other vertebral segments have smooth and remodeled spondylosis deformans.
The ultrasonographic image of the caudal abdominal aorta shows a hyperechoic intraluminal thrombus with peripheral arterial flow on color Doppler. The left kidney has poor corticomedullary distinction and is hyperechoic at the caudal pole.
Differential Diagnosis
- Discospondylitis (bacterial, fungal) with chronic secondary changes
- Aortic thrombus may be due chronic infection and hypercoagulability
- Chronic renal change may be due to systemic infection or systemic thrombosis.
Diagnosis
- Urine cultures produced Aspergillus sp, and serology revealed high titres for Brucella canis. Blood cultures were negative.
- Hyperglobulinemia and proteinuria